Climate change is the great multiplier in natural areas management – exacerbating the impact of all other ecological stressors. This concept is not new to NAA members, and climate change related talks have been prominently featured at Natural Areas Conferences for decades. However, natural areas managers are often left with the questions, Now what? What can I do? In 2019, attendees of the Natural Areas Conference met in Pittsburgh, PA to consider the role of natural areas related to mitigating the impacts of global climate change, while adjusting approaches to land management to confront ecological stresses. At the time, this was an emerging area of science, creating more questions than answers. 

• Carbon sequestration and storage

• Habitat refugia for rare species 

• Improving watershed quality (maintaining water temperature, reducing flooding events)

• Protecting rare plant communities and ecosystems

• Examining the importance of biodiversity in carbon sequestration

• Determining adequate buffers around protected resources

• Preparing for greater invasive species threats.

• Understanding the role and importance of prescribed fire

• Improving connectivity of NAs to aid in species migrations

• Balancing scientific value with recreational use

• Examining regional NA portfolios – are habitats that are critical to future protection and conservation missing

agenda

Friday, October 28, 2022